Queen Camilla joked about a parrot in a bizarre moment during her and King Charles’s royal tour.

Photographs show Camilla, 77, laughing and smiling alongside Caesar, a nine-year-old parrot she met at Refettorio OzHarvest Sydney, which is in the Surry Hills part of the New South Wales city.

The Queen Consort persevered in saying “hello Caesar” to the bird but he remained mute. Camilla quipped: “He’s gone camera shy” but, after some more hesitation, the parrot finally said: “Hello”. A huge cheer went up from the crowd, gathered excitedly hours in advance of Their Majesties arrivals near Sydney Opera House.

The King and Queen took part in an Aboriginal smoking ceremony to ward off bad spirits, and turned sausages at a traditional Aussie barbecue. Charles, who has been having treatment for cancer, also visited the Melanoma Institute Australia to learn about its pioneering treatment of skin cancer.

Caesar wouldn’t speak at first but finally greeted Camilla ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Its directors and Australians of the year 2024, Professors Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer, described His Majesty’s decision to go public with his cancer diagnosis as “courageous”.

This morning Charles and Camilla are due to fly to Samoa, where His Majesty will speak at the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

Charles’s visit was his first to Australia as King despite his cancer diagnosis and the overseas tour has been curtailed on advice from doctors, with a visit to New Zealand dropped from the itinerary.

Professor Richard Scolyer, co-medical director of the Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA), said the King’s decision to go public with his cancer diagnosis was “courageous” after Charles visited the centre.

Prof Scolyer, one of the world’s leading melanoma specialists, said: “It’s courageous of the King to go public with his cancer journey.” Charles has suspended his treatment while away from the UK and Professor Georgina Long, co-medical director of the MIA, said: “This is a common discussion I have with patients, and my view, and that of my colleagues, is that we are here for quality of life, and so you squeeze things in, you make it happen for people.”